Lesson 6: The Word-Filled Life

Written by: Biblical Studies Foundation Posted on: 04/09/2003

Category: Sermons

Source: CCN

; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Lesson 6: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The Word-Filled Life ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Developing the Mind of Christ ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Introduction ; ; ; ; The Bible is the Christianæ;s resource book, his manual for living, the light to his path, and the index for faith and ; ; ; ; practice. The Bible is Godæ;s Wordù;His special revelation by which man is to cleanse and direct his way. As ; ; ; ; Godæ;s revelation to man, it teaches man things he absolutely cannot learn about life and death apart from this ; ; ; ; very special revelation as Paul [INVALID]s in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 but just as it is written, ô;Things which eye has not seen and ear ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; prepared for those who love Him.ö; 10 For to us God revealed them through the ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; to Thy word. 10 With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Thy commandments. 11 Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; against Thee. ; ; ; ; This revelation includes things such as the truth about God as a triunity or trinity (His essence, character, ; ; ; ; purposes, and plan); things about man (his origin, make up, fall, sin, and need); about the physical world and ; ; ; ; its true origin as the creation of the Creator and its future redemption; about Satan and the forces of evil in the ; ; ; ; world; about Godæ;s plan of salvation for man through faith in the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ ; ; ; ; (salvation from sinæ;s penalty, power, and one day from its presence); the person and ministry of the Holy ; ; ; ; Spirit; and about things to come. Because of manæ;s finite limitations, his natural spiritual blindness, and his ; ; ; ; spiritual condition in sin, the Bible is (as the late Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote) a book that man could not ; ; ; ; write if he would and would not write if he could. ; ; ; ; Because of what it is and does, the Bible is the most important book of the Christianæ;s life. Note the following ; ; ; ; sampling of verses: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Matthew 5:18-19 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. 19 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; adequate, equipped for every good work. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 2 Peter 1:18-21 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word made ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of oneæ;s own interpretation, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Holy Spirit spoke from God. ; ; ; ; Christians not only need to know their Bibles, but they need to know about their Bible. It is important to be ; ; ; ; carefully informed as to its value that they may be more motivated to use it and use it properly in view of its ; ; ; ; character, purpose, and origin. Because spiritual understanding, faith, practice, and obedience to God is ; ; ; ; dependent on the Bible, the doctrine of the Bible (bibliology) is one of the most important doctrines of ; ; ; ; Scripture that a person can know. ; ; ; ; David wrote, ô;I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy ; ; ; ; truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy nameö; (Ps. 138:2, KJV) (emphasis mine). The ; ; ; ; NASB renders the second portion of this verse ô;For Thou hast magnified Thy Word according to all Thy ; ; ; ; Name.ö; The NIV has ô;for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.ö; ; ; ; ; ô;Accordingö; or ô;aboveö; (KJV) represents in the Hebrew text, the hiphil stem of the verb gadal plus the ; ; ; ; preposition al. This would normally mean ô;aboveö; as translated by the KJV, but all these are possible ; ; ; ; translations. Regardless of which translation one accepts, the text is declaring the importance of Godæ;s Word ; ; ; ; to both the knowledge and worship of God. Knowing God, which the mention of Godæ;s name includes, is ; ; ; ; dependent on knowing Godæ;s Word. As it is sometimes said, ô;a manæ;s name is as good as his word,ö; so ; ; ; ; Godæ;s name and knowing God is dependent on the truth, faithfulness, and accuracy of His Word and oneæ;s ; ; ; ; knowledge of the Scripture. With this in mind, letæ;s consider what the Bible is. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The Attributes of the Bible (Psa. 19:7-14) ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Psalm 19:7-14 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Moreover, by them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 13 Also keep back Thy ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I shall be ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; rock and my Redeemer. ; ; ; ; It Is God-Breathed: ; ; ; ; Inspired Revelation From God ; ; ; ; The following data presents the testimony of the Bible concerning itself as the inspired revelation of God. This ; ; ; ; is testimony which needs to be heard, but should one not want to listen to this testimonyù;and many do ; ; ; ; notù;they not only ignore the testimony of the Bible, the witness of the defendant to itself, but they also ignore ; ; ; ; a large amount of other evidence which has tremendous weight and substantiates this testimony of the Bible. ; ; ; ; This evidence includes the inexhaustible depth of the Bible; its marvelous continuity from Genesis through ; ; ; ; Revelation; its world-wide circulation, the purity and ethics of the Bible; its unrelenting faithfulness to present ; ; ; ; truth and its refusal to hide the sin of its heroes; its relevance in all generations; the testimony of archeology; the ; ; ; ; fulfillment of prophecy; its prevailing power to change not only individuals, but whole societies; and its ; ; ; ; preservation and survival in the face of one attack after another to either destroy or discredit it. ; ; ; ; This is particularly significant when we compare the Bibleæ;s preservation with all the other writings of ; ; ; ; antiquity.67 ; ; ; ; The greatest testimony to the authenticity of the Bible as Godæ;s Word is the Lord Jesus. Why is His testimony ; ; ; ; so important? Because God authenticated and proved Him to be His own divine Son by the resurrection (cf. ; ; ; ; Acts 2:22-36; 4:8-12; 17:30-31; Rom. 1:4). Christ clearly confirmed the authority of the Old Testament and ; ; ; ; promised the New Testament. ; ; ; ; Note what Christ taught about the Old Testament: ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Authority (Matt. 22:43) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Reliability (Matt. 26:54) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Finality (Matt. 4:4, 7, 10) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Sufficiency (Luke 16:31) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Indestructibility (Matt. 5:17-18) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Unity (Luke 24:27, 44) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Clarity (Luke 24:27) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Historicity (Matt. 12:40) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Facticity (scientifically) (Matt. 19:2-5) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Inerrancy (Matt. 22:29; John 3:12; 17:17) ; ; ; ; ; ; Its Infallibility (John 10:35)68 ; ; ; ; With this in mind, letæ;s look at the testimony of the defendant itself. In any just court of law, the defendant has ; ; ; ; the right to be represented and heard. ; ; ; ; ; ; The Fact of Inspiration ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; for correction, for training in righteousness; à; ; ; ; ; All Scripture is inspired, literally, ô;breathed out (qeopneustos) of God.ö; We could translate it, ô;all Scripture is ; ; ; ; God-breathed.ö; This points to the means and source of inspiration. Our English word ô;inspireö; carries the idea ; ; ; ; of breathing into something. The Greek word, however, teaches us God breathed out the Scripture. Though ; ; ; ; God used human authors to record His message, the Bible has its source in God who breathed it out through ; ; ; ; the human authors. He used their vocabularies, experiences, and personalities, but He was the ultimate source ; ; ; ; and they were but the human instruments. More will be said on this below when we consider ô;the how of ; ; ; ; inspiration.ö; ; ; ; ; ; ; The Extent and Nature of Inspiration ; ; ; ; All Scripture, the entire Bible, Genesis through Revelation, is inspired and profitable. This points to the extent ; ; ; ; of inspiration. It is all inspired. Theologians often refer to this as plenary inspiration. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure, Therefore Thy servant loves it. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Psalm 19:7-9 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; true; they are righteous altogether. ; ; ; ; The result is that the whole Bible is ô;true, tried, perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, more desirable than gold, and ; ; ; ; sweeter than honey.ö; Such descriptions point to the verbal, plenary, unlimited inerrancy and infallible nature of ; ; ; ; the Bible (cf. 1 Cor. 2:9-13). Note the following verses where the argument hinges on one word (Gal. 3:16, ; ; ; ; ô;seedö;; Matt. 22:31-32, ô;amö;). ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Matthew 5:17-18 Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; all is accomplished. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; John 10:35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came and the ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Scripture cannot be broken, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; does not say, ô;And to seeds,ö; as referring to many, but rather to one, ô;And to your ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; seed,ö; that is, Christ. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Matthew 22:31-32 But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; that which was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 æ;I am the God of Abraham, and ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacobæ;? He is not the God of the dead but of the ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; living. ; ; ; ; Regarding the true nature of inspiration and the attack that has gone on for years over the truth of inspiration, ; ; ; ; Ryrie writes: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; While many theological viewpoints would be willing to say the Bible is inspired, one ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; finds little uniformity to what is meant by inspiration. Some focus it on the writers; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; others, on the writings; still others, on the readers. Some relate it to the general ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; message of the Bible; others, to the thoughts; still others, to the words. Some ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; include inerrancy; many donæ;t. These differences call for precision in stating the ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; biblical doctrine. Formerly all that was necessary to affirm oneæ;s belief in full ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; inspiration was the statement, ô;I believe in the inspiration of the Bible.ö; But when ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; some did not extend inspiration to the words of the text it became necessary to say, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ô;I believe in the verbal inspiration of the Bible.ö; To counter the teaching that not all ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; parts of the Bible were inspired, one had to say, ô;I believe in the verbal, plenary ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; inspiration of the Bible.ö; Then because some did not want to ascribe total accuracy ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; to the Bible, it was necessary to say, ô;I believe in the verbal, plenary, infallible, ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; inerrant inspiration of the Bible.ö; But then ô;infallibleö; and ô;inerrantö; began to be ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; limited to matters of faith only rather than also embracing all that the Bible records ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (including historical facts, genealogies, accounts of Creation, etc.), so it became ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; necessary to add the concept of ô;unlimited inerrancy.ö; Each addition to the basic ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; statement arose because of an erroneous teaching.69 ; ; ; ; ; ; The Value of Inspiration ; ; ; ; Since all Scripture is God-breathed, being the product of an all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful and loving ; ; ; ; God, the Apostle Paul goes on to state that the entire Bible is profitable for four things: ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ; ; ; ; (1) Teachingù;ô;Teachingö; is the Greek didaskalia and means ô;doctrineö; or ô;teaching.ö; It is used in both the ; ; ; ; active sense (i.e., the act of teaching), and in the passive sense (what is taught, doctrine). In the pastoral ; ; ; ; epistles, Paul uses it of the act of teaching (1 Tim. 4:13, 17; 2 Tim. 3:10), and of what is taught as in sound ; ; ; ; doctrine (cf. 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:6, 16; 6:1, 3; 2 Tim. 4:3; Tit. 1:9; 2:1; 2:7, 10). As many of these passages show, ; ; ; ; especially Titus 2:1, our teaching must be in accord with sound doctrine. And for doctrine to be sound, it must ; ; ; ; be in accord with the inspired Word. Ultimately, teaching or doctrineù;the contentù;refers to Godæ;s ; ; ; ; fundamental principles for manæ;s life, both eternal and abundant, the basics, the fundamentals upon which life is ; ; ; ; to be built. ; ; ; ; (2) Reproofù;This is the Greek elegmos which means ô;proof, conviction, reproof.ö; The mos ending shows ; ; ; ; this is a passive noun which looks at the result of the process of the convicting ministry of the Spirit through ; ; ; ; the Wordù;personal conviction through exposure to truth. One might compare elegmos to another Greek ; ; ; ; word, elenxis, an active noun which looks at the process of reproving or exposing. Both need to go on in the ; ; ; ; life of a believer. The goal, however, is not simply the process. Itæ;s the resultù;personal conviction. Like the ; ; ; ; light it is, the Bible reproves and exposes us to the various ways we violate the plan and principles of God in all ; ; ; ; the relationships of life, with God and with people such as in oneæ;s family, in the church, and in society. Once ; ; ; ; we have been reproved and experience conviction (reproof) to the violations, we each face a very important ; ; ; ; decision. We can move toward God and respond to His correction and training, or we can rebel and resist. ; ; ; ; If we resist, then, as a Father, He disciplines us to draw us back to Him. ; ; ; ; (3) Correctionù;This is the Greek epanorqwsis which means ô;setting up straight, setting right.ö; It stresses the ; ; ; ; restorative nature and capacity of Scripture and points to the more immediate work of the Word to set our feet ; ; ; ; back on course. The Psalmist wrote, ô;The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soulö; (Psa. 19:7a). ; ; ; ; (4) Training in righteousnessù;ô;Trainingö; is paideia which basically means ô;training, instruction, discipline,ö; ; ; ; ; not in the sense of punishment, but in the sense of the disciplines that train and develop character, strength, ; ; ; ; skill, etc. This is undoubtedly more long range and refers to those truths that develop godly character and ; ; ; ; spiritual strengthù;growth truths and procedures like Bible study, meditation, and prayer. ; ; ; ; ; ; The Purpose of Inspiration ; ; ; ; The purpose is that ô;the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good workö; (2 Tim. 3:17). The ; ; ; ; Bible offers us Godæ;s comfort and His peace as it reveals His love, care, and mercy, but this is always in the ; ; ; ; context of conforming us into the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29) and equipping us for a life of good works ; ; ; ; (Eph. 2:10). Equipping us is designed to produce righteousness and ministry rather than self-indulgence. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Romans 8:28-29 And we know that God causes all things to work together for ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, [INVALID]d in Christ Jesus for good ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ; ; ; ; The word ô;adequateö; is the Greek artios which means ô;fit, complete, capable, sufficient: i.e., able to meet ; ; ; ; whatever is needed.ö; Being ô;fitö; looks at the result or the intended result of a process, the aim in view. I think ; ; ; ; the process itself is seen in the word ô;equipped.ö; Note these three points about this word: ; ; ; ; (1) ô;Equi

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